1 Corinthians 9:15-19
Ps Paul Cheng
Dear Bethelites,
Today, we live in a society where people talk about freedom and rights all the time. People argue and fight for their rights to own firearms, have better healthcare, salary, housing and so forth. Fighting for one’s rights was also nothing new at Corinth. That was the reason why the Apostle Paul spent an extensive length of time to deal with this matter which we had considered in our previous pastoral chats.
Paul continued to say in verse 15, But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.
The phrase none of these things was a reference to the first fourteen verses which Paul illustrated how he had those rights. However, he had made claims on none of these things. Some might accuse him of speaking on this matter as a form of “reverse psychology” (so to speak); to manipulate the people to pay him or to boast about his hardwork and self-righteousness. Thus, Paul reiterated the fact that he did not write these things in order to be compensated. God forbid, for he would rather die than to make his glorying void.
Oftentimes, the word glorying is seen in a negative connotation, as in boasting. But glorying or boasting can be used in positive ways as well. For example, Jeremiah 9:23 said, Thus saith the LORD, let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: (one should not boast of his wisdom, strength, wealth). But Jeremiah went on to say, But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD (Jeremiah 9:24). In other words, God takes delight in us glorifying Him; we should not glory in ourselves nor our accomplishments, but in the Lord who has blessed us with the strength and spiritual privileges to do His work.
That was exactly what Paul was doing here, for he was glorying and rejoicing in the fact that God had enabled him to preach the gospel to the Corinthians without them having to support him. In a sense, he was saying, “Please do not think that I am saying this so that you would pay me, I would rather be dead than have anyone think I preached for money.”
Dear friend, whom and what do we boast about? Ourselves and our deeds? Most certainly not! If we ever boast about anything, it should only be in the Lord for blessing us with so many good things.
Verse 16, For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
The gospel is the good news of salvation. One should not be ashamed but rather be proud of the gospel. Some people are gifted to articulate the gospel message, but they should not be proud of their ability. They are just instruments blessed by God to deliver the gospel in a mighty way.
The word necessity means a compulsion, and the phrase laid upon me speaks of a burden pressing down. Here Paul was speaking of a pressing compulsion to preach the gospel.
Why do we want to share the gospel? Is it not because of a pressing compulsion within our hearts? No true preacher would be able to resist the call to preach because deep down in his heart, there is this burden weighing heavily. It is a conviction that God has laid upon his heart.
Verse 17, For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
If Paul had preached the gospel out of his own will or choice, he would have a reward for his noble work. The phrase If against my will does not mean he was unwilling to preach, rather it was not a matter personal choice but God’s calling. That is the meaning of the word dispensation (stewardship). Paul was a steward of God and given an awesome responsibility to discharge the gospel message.
Allow me to use an illustration. There is a very wealthy man who owns a huge house, and has many slaves. Those slaves would be his stewards to take care of the business in the house. The master could say to one of his stewards, “You do this,” and the slave or steward would immediately be committed to do it. Similarly, Paul was saying, “Christ is my master, and I am His slave. He has committed unto me this stewardship to preach the gospel. I do it because I am a steward. My master has called me to do it. And I will never stop preaching!”
Indeed, Paul was a faithful steward for which his Master would reward him. Verse 18a, What is my reward then? His reward was not money or the tangible things of the world. It was the intangible spiritual reward which he would receive from his Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, he said, Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel (v.18b). Although he had every right to receive support from the Corinthians (c.f. 1 Timothy 5:17), he chose not to do so. In fact, that was his policy wherever he went to preach the gospel.
For example, to the Thessalonians, Paul said, For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God (1 Thessalonians 2:9). In his second letter to them, he again said, Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you (2 Thessalonians 3:8). Paul did receive support from the Thessalonians after he left them, but not while he was ministering to them.
Here he refused to receive support from the Corinthians because he did not want to abuse his rights to be paid for preaching the gospel. But why did Paul do that? Isn’t it right to support the preacher? Imagine you are in a foreign city, like in a pagan setting similar to Corinth. There is no Bible study, worship services or church, and you are starting a gospel. You have just arrived in the city, and you are conducting a Bible study class, and people are coming. Then you said to them, “I am so glad that you have come. Now there is a very important thing you need to do. You need to do a collection of money so that I can be supported. And then I can minister to you without the distraction of having to work in order to support myself.” What do you think will happen? Will it not adversely affect the gospel work?
Dr H.A. Ironside, who pastored Moody church in Chicago, would always say this whenever he announced the collection of offerings, “We ask God’s people to give generously. If you are not a believer in Jesus Christ, we do not ask you to give. Instead we have a gift for you, eternal life through faith in Christ.” He made it clear that the offering was for believers, lest the unsaved in the congregation stumble over money and then reject the gospel. If Dr Ironside had not done that, the people would think that they needed to pay in order to hear the gospel.
So, it is not wrong to support pastors and preachers. The Bible commands, Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward (1 Timothy 5:17-18). The believers who are saved, are subsequently discipled and taught the whole counsel of scriptures which includes understanding the mandate to give of their tithes and offerings. But this is not the case with the unbelievers. Therefore, we need to make special efforts not to stumble them, for in doing so, we will hurt the gospel.
In Christ,
Pastor Paul Cheng
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